Post by High Priestess on May 30, 2016 15:56:55 GMT
Monica shared on ANecdotes Jan 2015
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-102149
Number of People Booked vs Number of People Staying
I joined this group because I am looking for some advice. I have a house with 5 bedrooms that I rent out privately and thru airbnb, as a whole unit. It has happened quite often that I get a booking for a certain number of people but it was obvious that more people stayed than were booked. For example, four people booked during the holidays in one car. Another car was parked there overnight and I had to strip and wash 3 double beds in three rooms, and wash many more towels than would have been necessary. More people = more cleaning, more hot water used, etc. I thought of charging a fixed rate for the whole house but that would make it too expensive for a just a couple to stay. Maybe leave all beds without lines (locked up) and make up one the bed used for the booking? A little extreme? I'd like your opinions.
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Monica
Monicaa year ago
Sorry...no way to edit my post. I meant to write that I would lock up the linens to the beds other than the one booked and make up only that bed. The house looks so bare and empty if I do that.
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Carrie
Carriea year ago
definitely lock up the rooms and linens that are not paid for. it's not extreme. if your guest booked the house for x people and more showed up, it is a violation and technically a trespass.
do you get a lot of couples? maybe make a separate listing and show picture of just one room?
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Deborah
Deboraha year ago
Do you check your guests in yourself? In person? Do you state in your listing and house rules that for every guest who will be staying, their names must be provided in advance and every guest who will be staying must be paid for in advance, and that NO other persons whatsoever may be present on the property, even for a few minutes? This would be a way to help prevent abuse. Locking up extra items also is a good idea. You cannot completely prevent abuse if you are not there, but you can certainly make it very clear that sneaking in other guests is prohibited and could lead to immediate termination of the reservation with all fees forfeited. Having some good strong consequences for abuse of your generosity and rules may help.
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Monica
Monicaa year ago
I check the guests in myself, hand them the keys, etc....but I have no control over what happens later.
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Monica
Monicaa year ago
When families book it they often have get-togethers with their relatives in the area. I don't mind that if they don't stay overnight. But I cannot tell them not to invite friends and family over for a meal.
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Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
Hi Monica - sorry this happens to you! It's one of the things that can definitely happen with a whole house listing when you aren't nearby.
I think your house rules do a nice job with the "extra guest" rule, and you can reiterate that to your guests when they check in. "It's fine to have folks over to visit for a few hours, but only the originally registered guests can spend the night - will there be any other guests overnight?"
How about asking them about sleeping arrangements when they check in - as in, have them pick out the rooms they want to use? Then lock the other bedrooms - either with a hallway lock (push a paperclip in the hole to unlock) or an exterior locking knob (requires a key). I know some couples want to sleep separately (snoring/thrashing/estranged) but those are probably rare.
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Monica
Monicaa year ago
It happens a little too often. I wanted to avoid not making all the beds. It looks much more cosy when all the beds are made up.....I cannot lock the rooms. The doors are very old and just have a door knob. Padlocking them would look awful. I always like to give the guests a choice of which bed to use, but I think that for future bookings I will ask which bed(s) they want and make up only those....locking the linens for the other beds into a blanket box. If it only happened occasionally I would not do this but it is happening more and more.
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Monica
Monicaa year ago
Oh yes....then there was the couple that tried out all the beds........And the group of students who had more friends stay and used the couch cushions on the laundry room floor....I guess you see all kinds. The good guests do make up for the bad ones!
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Carolyn
Carolyna year ago
I would lock up the rooms that is not being paid for. I am only renting out one room therefore I do not allow any of my guess to have friends or family over
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Stan & Maggie
Stan & Maggiea year ago
You can purchase tamperproof tape for the doors of rooms not rented. If you apply and carefully reapply in an obvious spot that should work especially if you hang a private sign on the door knob. Also state in house rules access is only for room rented, extra use could be charged from security
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Rachelle
Rachellea year ago
Monica , I have doorknobs which you can lock ( you insert the key into the doorknob ) pus they also lock from the inside as I have two rooms and when one is rented i lock the other one , try amazon
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Alexandra
Alexandraa year ago
Here is for thinking outside the box. I list my home as shared space with the owner. I travel for work, so Im not there 80% of the time. Guest book with the understanding that I will be there the entire time, but are pleasantly surprised when they find they have the place to themselves. Attracts a completely different clientele.
Reply Like 1 like
Deborah
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-102149
Number of People Booked vs Number of People Staying
I joined this group because I am looking for some advice. I have a house with 5 bedrooms that I rent out privately and thru airbnb, as a whole unit. It has happened quite often that I get a booking for a certain number of people but it was obvious that more people stayed than were booked. For example, four people booked during the holidays in one car. Another car was parked there overnight and I had to strip and wash 3 double beds in three rooms, and wash many more towels than would have been necessary. More people = more cleaning, more hot water used, etc. I thought of charging a fixed rate for the whole house but that would make it too expensive for a just a couple to stay. Maybe leave all beds without lines (locked up) and make up one the bed used for the booking? A little extreme? I'd like your opinions.
12 comments
Following
Like
Monica
Monicaa year ago
Sorry...no way to edit my post. I meant to write that I would lock up the linens to the beds other than the one booked and make up only that bed. The house looks so bare and empty if I do that.
Reply Like
Carrie
Carriea year ago
definitely lock up the rooms and linens that are not paid for. it's not extreme. if your guest booked the house for x people and more showed up, it is a violation and technically a trespass.
do you get a lot of couples? maybe make a separate listing and show picture of just one room?
Reply Like 1 like
Deborah
Deboraha year ago
Do you check your guests in yourself? In person? Do you state in your listing and house rules that for every guest who will be staying, their names must be provided in advance and every guest who will be staying must be paid for in advance, and that NO other persons whatsoever may be present on the property, even for a few minutes? This would be a way to help prevent abuse. Locking up extra items also is a good idea. You cannot completely prevent abuse if you are not there, but you can certainly make it very clear that sneaking in other guests is prohibited and could lead to immediate termination of the reservation with all fees forfeited. Having some good strong consequences for abuse of your generosity and rules may help.
Reply Like 1 like
Monica
Monicaa year ago
I check the guests in myself, hand them the keys, etc....but I have no control over what happens later.
Reply Like 1 like
Monica
Monicaa year ago
When families book it they often have get-togethers with their relatives in the area. I don't mind that if they don't stay overnight. But I cannot tell them not to invite friends and family over for a meal.
Reply Like
Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
Hi Monica - sorry this happens to you! It's one of the things that can definitely happen with a whole house listing when you aren't nearby.
I think your house rules do a nice job with the "extra guest" rule, and you can reiterate that to your guests when they check in. "It's fine to have folks over to visit for a few hours, but only the originally registered guests can spend the night - will there be any other guests overnight?"
How about asking them about sleeping arrangements when they check in - as in, have them pick out the rooms they want to use? Then lock the other bedrooms - either with a hallway lock (push a paperclip in the hole to unlock) or an exterior locking knob (requires a key). I know some couples want to sleep separately (snoring/thrashing/estranged) but those are probably rare.
Reply Like
Monica
Monicaa year ago
It happens a little too often. I wanted to avoid not making all the beds. It looks much more cosy when all the beds are made up.....I cannot lock the rooms. The doors are very old and just have a door knob. Padlocking them would look awful. I always like to give the guests a choice of which bed to use, but I think that for future bookings I will ask which bed(s) they want and make up only those....locking the linens for the other beds into a blanket box. If it only happened occasionally I would not do this but it is happening more and more.
Reply Like 1 like
Monica
Monicaa year ago
Oh yes....then there was the couple that tried out all the beds........And the group of students who had more friends stay and used the couch cushions on the laundry room floor....I guess you see all kinds. The good guests do make up for the bad ones!
Reply Like 1 like
Carolyn
Carolyna year ago
I would lock up the rooms that is not being paid for. I am only renting out one room therefore I do not allow any of my guess to have friends or family over
Reply Like
Stan & Maggie
Stan & Maggiea year ago
You can purchase tamperproof tape for the doors of rooms not rented. If you apply and carefully reapply in an obvious spot that should work especially if you hang a private sign on the door knob. Also state in house rules access is only for room rented, extra use could be charged from security
Reply Like 1 like
Rachelle
Rachellea year ago
Monica , I have doorknobs which you can lock ( you insert the key into the doorknob ) pus they also lock from the inside as I have two rooms and when one is rented i lock the other one , try amazon
Reply Like
Alexandra
Alexandraa year ago
Here is for thinking outside the box. I list my home as shared space with the owner. I travel for work, so Im not there 80% of the time. Guest book with the understanding that I will be there the entire time, but are pleasantly surprised when they find they have the place to themselves. Attracts a completely different clientele.
Reply Like 1 like
Deborah